Larry Wilson: Munger won't drop tax plan - or not just now

POLITICIANS and pundits from around the state are forever wondering if and when and how Gov. Jerry Brown will talk Pasadena attorney Molly Munger into not putting her tax issue on the November ballot.

Munger's "Our Children, Our Future" ballot initiative would raise an estimated $10 billion for California's schools and early childhood education through a personal income-tax increase on the wealthy.

Problem is, Brown has a ballot measure of his own for the fall election, which would raise money for schools through hikes in both income and sales taxes.

Not only that - there's a third "millionaire's tax" proposed for the ballot, this one backed by the California Federation of Teachers, the smaller of the state's two teachers' unions, which would go to schools as well. Except that, in order to garner support from various factions, its proceeds would also go to "services for children, seniors, and people who are disabled," and to "public safety, including firefighters, law enforcement, and first responders" - always a favorite of folks trying to raise taxes - and to "repairs to roads and bridges." What, no allocation for apple dumplings?

Brown is raising money for his ballot bid at a terrific clip - dialing for dollars to the tune of about $45,000 a day, according to the Capital Notes blog.

But he's increasingly annoyed at the competition, and at one point assigned his wife, Anne Gust, to try to talk Munger into dropping out. Didn't happen.

The governor figures that with too many tax initiatives on the ballot, there's a good chance they would all go down. The smart money has indicated that the governor can be pretty persuasive on these matters.

But Munger has plenty of resources of her own. She doesn't need to dial for dollars. And she has pledged to spend "whatever it takes" to qualify Our Children, Our Future for the ballot and to get it passed.

Sacramento types still figure she'll back down.

Pasadenans are sure she won't - or not just now, at least. Munger mailed her local friends and fellow ACT supporters an invitation last week to a gathering at her San Rafael neighborhood home on Sunday, March 18 for a "personal briefing" on the ballot initiative. Those of us who know Molly know she's not only dedicated to the future of education in California, she's not the type to renege on an invitation.

So, governor, if you're going to be convincing in the end, it's not going to happen before March 19.

Wednesday's random notes: Literary minds are thinking alike when it comes to bringing great writers to town. Saturday the perennially sold-out Pasadena Festival of Women Authors included moving and very funny presentations by Altadena novelist Michelle Huneven, author most recently of the harrowing "Blame," and Susan Straight, the Riverside novelist whose latest is "Take One Candle Light a Room." Both will be featured at LitFest Pasadena March 17 in Central Park - Susan on Altadena novelist Jervey Tervalon's "The Broader Canvas" panel at 10:20, Michelle joining novelist Mona Simpson and me in conversation at 12:30. I look forward to seeing you there.